Vehicle-hub.



Patentd* Nov; 2l, !899. S. B. McHENRY.

VEH'ICLE HU'B.

(Application filed Max. 13, 1899.)

2 Shats-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

"ZO i'nesses Patented Nov; z, 1899. S. B. McHENBY.

VEHICLE HUB.

(Application fllad Mar. 13, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheei 2. v

(No Model.)

%liz

NiTED STATES SAMUEL B. MCHENRY,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VEHlCLE-HUB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 6373645, datedNovember 21, 1899.

Application filed March 13, 1899. Serial No. 708675. (No model.)

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. MCHENRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicage, in the County of Cook and State of Illiv nois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Hubs, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has relation to'tlie wheels of bicycles and other vehiclesin which pneumatic tires are applied to the wheels, the object of theinvention being to provide a hub of improved Construction the use ofwhich in .a wheel will dispense with the necessity of using pneumatictires, the construction of my improved hub being such that theelastieity and resiliencyusuallysecured by using pneumatic tires willbeobtained by the use of this hub.

With this object in View my invention con sists in the improvedconstruction, arrangement, and combination of part s hereinafter fullydescribed and afterward specifically pointed out in the claims. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectionthrough `a hub on the dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 2 construoted inaecordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectionon the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View onthe radial dotted line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. l is a view of a hub in sideelevation, parts of epokes being also shown, the parts illustrated inFig. 5 being omitted. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View illustrating arear axle of a bicycle mounted in the ends of the rear forks of thefrane with the stationary parte of my hub thereon. Fig. G is a detailperspective view illustrating one of the cups for holding the rubbercushions. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View illustrating one of therubber cushions.

Like numerals of reference mark the same parts wherever they occur inthe various figures of the drawings.- p

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 10 and 11 indicate the lowerbifnrcated or notched ends of the rear forks of the frame of a bicycle,and 12 the rear axle of a bicycle, Secured in said ends in any usual orordinary manner, nuts 13 being used in this instance.

14 15 indicate the outer sleeves (or comes, as they are generallydenominated) of ballbearings, the inner members 16 17 (or cones) beingformed or secured in the long sleeve or box 18 of the wheel, the balls19 being seated between the cones in the usual manner.

20 indicates one of the "cups, so called, of which there 'are four, inwhich rubber cushions 21 are seated, one of the cups being showndetached in Fig. 6 and one of the rubber cushions in Fig. 7. These fourcups are shaped so that when arranged around the sleeve 18 they willentirely snrround it, eX- cept that 'spaces are left to receiveSeparatorplates or partitions 22 between adjacent cups, such partitionsbeing made of hard-tempered steel and projecting slightly beyond theedges of the cups. Each cup consists of a casting comprising flatportions or plates 23 and 24 at right angles to each other and a curvedportion or plate 25 between and connecting theni, With a flange 26extending entirely around these portions or plates and at right anglesthereto.

The rubber cushions 21 are shaped to fit tightly in the cups and projecttherefrom in shape of right-angled cnrved-faced cushons 27. The cups areSecured to the box 18 ninety degrees apart by rivets 28, passing throughthe shell of the box and centrally through the curved portions or platesof said cups. The partitions 22 are Secured between the cups by rivets29, passing through them and the adjacent fiat portions of the cups.

The structure thus far described comprises all the parts of my hub whichare rigidly secured to the boX 18 and directly moved by the rotation ofthe box, which rotation is effected by means of the sp'ocket-wleel 30,secured thereon.

31 and 32 indicate the casings of the hub, to which are connected in anyapproved man` ner the usual wire spokes 33. These casings are annularand cup-shaped, their inner and outer edge flanges lying at right anglesto the box 18, as at 34 34:, the central openings being somewhat greaterin diameter thanthe box. Within the outer edge flanges 35 are ringsconsisting of fiat fianges 36, lying against fianges 35, and annularsemicylinders 37, projecting outward into the casings 31 and 32,

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containing wicks or cords 38, saturated with oil or other lubricatingfluid. The inner faces of flanges 36 and their semicylinders 37 bearagainst the side edges of partitions 22 (see Fig. 3) with close slidingcontact, and the casings 31 and 32 and their fianges 36 are separatedand held at proper distance apart i upon the rollers 39, said rollersresting in the angle of the cushions, and the elastic yielding nature ofthe cushions prevents all j ar in communicating such motion. The rollersbeing supported by the rim of the wheel through the medium of thespokes, the weight of the Vehicle and rider is carried by the rubbercushions below the axle. In the rotation of the wheel the cushions arecontinually co-ming into and passing out of this supporting position,the weight passing upon' and off each 1 cushion in succession, therubber of the cushions yielding during such Operations, causing theroller to rotateslightly and the flanges 36 and lubricator-cords 38 -toslide upon the edges of partitions 22, such movements corresponding inextent to the yielding of the cushions as the weight passes upon them.

By practical test I have found that a bicycle provided with a hubconstructed as hereinbefore described and with solid-rubber tires rideswith less power and greater ease than a bicycle having wheels withordinary pneumatic tires. All danger of puncture is of course avoided.All necessary vibration and yielding elasticity are provided. Therollers bear the weight and move from side to side of the rubbercushions without excess of rub or wear and tear. The partitions resistlateral movement of the hub-flanges and keep the wheel true on the axle.wicks or cords will contain suicient oil for a days run and are soplaced as to be comparatively well protected from dust and dirt, b utmud guards or caps may be used, if desired.

The cups are shaped to hold the cushions se-` curely, but also to permitof their removal and replacement when desired without removing any otherpart. When the propelling power is applied to the wheel, it lifts theweight off the rear part of 'the cushion and throws it upon the front,and vice versa when the movement is reversed.

While I have illustrated and described wha I consider to be efficientmeans for 'carrying out my in'vention, Lwish it to be understood that Ido not restrict myself to the exact forms and constructions shown, buthold that any slight Change or Variation therefrom, such as mightsuggest itself to the ordinary mechanic,`

The lubricating r would clearly be c'onprehended in the limit and scopeof my invention. 4 t

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination rubber'cushions securedthei-eto with their angles pointing inward forming V- shaped seats ontheir outer surfaces, hub-casings suspended by the spokes andsurrounding the hub and cushions, and rollers resting in thecushion-seats and carried by the hub-casings, substa'ntially asdescribed.

2. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination with the box thereof ofright-angled cups secured thereto with their angles inward and theirbottoms extending radially outward, and correspondingly shaped yieldin gcushions secured in'said cups, substantially as described. i

3. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination with the box thereof, ofright-angled cups secured thereto with their angles inward and theirbottoms extending radially outward, correspondingly-shaped yieldingcushions secured in said cups, radially-placed metal par titions betweenthe adjacent cups, and bolts securing the partitions between the cups,substantially as described.

4. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination with the hub-box, providedwith right-angled yielding cushions, with V-shaped outer bearings, ofhub-casings inclosing the yielding cushions and carried by the spokes,bolts connecting the hub-casings together, and rollers on said boltsengaging the cushions, substan tially as described.

5. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination with the hub and itsright-angled metal cush- 'ion-carrying cups, of the hub-casings carriedby the spokes, the annular fianges on the in-` ner sides of the casings,and the metal partitions between the cups projecting into con- -tactwith the annular flanges, substantially as described. i

6. In a vehicle-wheel-hub, the combination with the hub, right-angledmetal cups and the cushions carried thereby, of the hub-casings, theinner annular flanges, the metal partitions between the cups projectinginto contact with said annular flanges, the bolts passing through thecasings and annular flanges, and the rollers on said bolts engaging thecushion, substantially as described.

i 7. In a vehicle-wheel hub, the combination with the box, itsright-angled cushion carryv the grooves of the annular flanges, incontact with the partitions,substantially as described.

withthe box thereof, of set of right-angled 8. The berem-describedvehicle-wheelhub, naled on said bolts and testin g upon the eushceomprising the box, the rightangled eushions ions, substantially asdescribed. in said eups, the partitons Secured between In testimonywhereof I afix my signature and projeetng beyond the sides of said eups,in presence of two witnesses. the casings earried by the spokes, thenner T annularand grooved flanges,lubricatingwck SAMUEL MCHENRL or cordin the g-ooves Contacting With the VVitnes ses:

partitions, the bolts securing the casings and ROBT. H. BROWNE, annularflanges together, and the rollers jour- J. H. R. J AMAR.

